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  1. Games
  2. Future Games Show

Presented by Ayelet Studio

Son of Thanjai takes you to 11th century India to master the whip like Surulvaal sword, in an action-adventure about King Rajendra Chola

News
By Leon Hurley

Learn history, unite a country and learn the South Indian martial art of Kalarippayattu

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

GamesRadar+ created this content as part of a paid partnership with Ayelet Studio. The contents of this article are entirely independent and solely reflect the editorial opinion of GamesRadar+.

Son of Thanjai is a cinematic action-adventure telling the tale of King Rajendra Chola, one of the greatest Indian emperors, in game set in the power clashes, culture, and conflict of 11th century Southern India.

  • Wishlist Son of Thanjai on Steam now

Son of Thanjai is set in Thanjavur, during the golden era of the Chola dynasty, and sees a young king, Rajendra Chola, burdened by his father’s legacy and navigating a fine line between duty and destiny, where loyalty is tested and your power threatened at every corner.

This is a narrative-rich, single-player experience that weaves intense combat with rich cultural storytelling. A crucial part of this is the use of the Surulvaal, a flexible, whip-like sword from the South Indian martial art Kalarippayattu. The game uses fluid animation and full-performance motion capture to deliver brutal melee action as you master this unusual weapon and fighting style. And, when you're not slicing up opponents to their face, you can use stealth takedowns with the Surulvaal to stay hidden as you infiltrate enemy camps.

As befitting a game with such a rich cultural experience as 11th century Southern India, you'll also see things like authentic temple celebrations, festivals, food, street performers, songs and traditional sporting activities. These act as narrative threads to connect you to the world's inhabitants as you explore the world of the Cholas.

Son of Thanjai is due to release late 2026 on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X

If you’re looking for more excellent games from today's Future Games Show, have a look at our official Steam page.

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Xbox Series X PS5 PC Gaming Platforms Xbox PlayStation
Leon Hurley
Leon Hurley
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Managing editor for guides

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website.

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